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The Liberty
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Hipster, Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
We are one of Austin's premiere hookah lounges offering over 80+ flavors of hookah tobacco, delicious Moroccan teas, great music, and a great atmosphere.
140 reviews for The Liberty
Review Highlights
"...course the inevitable East Side Kings food truck out back."
(in 4 reviews)
"Bocce ball, washers, jukebox, pinball, pool."
(in 12 reviews)
"Food from East Side Kings was awesome."
(in 11 reviews)
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140 reviews in English
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Review from Rachelle M.
Austin, TX
1/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
What I love about the East Side is epitomized in "The Liberty". Perfect blend of hipsters, freaks, dogs, and don't give a shit randoms (aka: moi) that all drink and mingle in harmony. Great beer selection. Strong cocktails. Patio reminiscent of dare I say it, San Francisco's own, Zeitgeist? I said it. Biggest Praise a bar can get in my humble opinion.
Graced by the affordable and incredibly tasty East Side King (best menu of the 3 East Side location in my opinion: Veggie Meshi for LIFE! -
Review from Sarah C.
1/10/2012
I like this place, a lot.
Love the vibe - very divey, but still a bit stylish.
They've got a good selection of beer, but their cocktail making ability is not so good, so definitely stick to things they do not have to make.
It is a great place to just hang, catch up with old friends, or play some pool!
One major plus with this place is that one of the East Side King trailers is just out back, so there's that! Awesome drunk food ready to go!
If they are not your thing, well, there's a whole lot more just a few steps away! -
Review from Robert S.
East Austin, Austin, TX
12/27/2011
If I were only rating Liberty Bar itself, I'd give it one or two stars. Although I do have to give Liberty props for being much friendlier and more welcoming than its biker-chic facade suggests it would be, the drinks and ambiance are far too similar to places like Side Bar -- and the bar itself it far too distant from Austin's downtown core -- to justify it's ever-so-slightly higher prices.
I do like the food trailer in back, though. -
Review from Emily G.
Austin, TX
Updated - 1/20/2012
Alright. My first experience at Liberty was kind of shitty, but maybe I just was in a shitty mood. I have been back plenty of times since ( my friends love it here), and I had just a fine time. Good beers on tap. Friendly door guy :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/16/2011
Went there the other night with a small group of friends. Bartenders were kind of crappy.
When we… Read more »
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Review from Edwin L.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very cool dive bar on 6th Street on the other side of 35E. My favorite part of this place is the food trailer out back--try the pork belly buns, the tongue buns, the beet fries, and brussel sprout salad. You have to wait a while to get your food, but your drinking beer while your wait so it's not a big deal. I'll be back to this place whenever I get the chance.
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Review from Farrah A.
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
I totes don't completely remember this bar. But I do recall cheap dranks. After paying $10 a pop elsewhere - and pretty much all over Austin since craft cocktails are annoyingly trendy - it was a nice change of pace.
Barkeep was cool. Restrooms were clean. Enviro was aight.Listed in: Austin - Pubs, Clubs and Bars
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Review from Christine H.
Houston, TX
12/5/2011
Came here for drinks on a Saturday night. Lots of craft brews and a fully stocked bar. Drinks are pretty cheap--spent about $30 after 6 or so beers. (This may not be cheap by Austin college standards, but it's cheap by Houston standards.) The place looks divey and is the ultimate hipster hangout. (This can be a good or bad thing depending on your outlook.) Everyone here, customers included, seemed super nice. Love it when alcohol breeds love.
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Review from Gregory A.
Austin, TX
9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's just about as pretentious as Austin hipster bars get. Like chicago's wriggleyville meets east Santa monica in los Felix. But even for the shit I give it, the food trailer is superb and the drinks are cheap.
Also, lots and lots of single girls. -
Review from Chris S.
Aliso Viejo, CA
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is fun. Drinks were cheap and they have bocci. Full of facial hair.
Food from East Side Kings was awesome. I would come back. -
Review from Duske B.
Austin, TX
7/29/2011
I love this bar! The main reason I love this bar is because of the poker painting in the back booth. I love how it is illuminated out of the murky, dark corners of the bar. He he.
The beer runs cheap, the staff are friendly, and happy hour is fun, yet laid back.
The best, best thing is truly the food van out back combined with the yummy beer. I dare you to get the fried brussel sprout salad and a pbr. Everynight at dinner time, I first ask if we can go out for the aforementioned items. If I get a 'yes' from my partner, well, we are fixin for a good night!
The only reason this place does not get five stars is because like clockwork, come 11, it gets soooo crowded. And in order to leave this friendly neighborhood bar, I inevitably get pushed up against girls' mid-drifts, and guys sweaty beer bellies, to find little pathways to the exit. -
Review from theda S.
Austin, TX
7/2/2011
Fun dive bar with a laid back people, pool table, eclectic jukebox and cheap drinks. Not to mention the delicious East Side Kings trailer out back.
Happy hour runs 4-8p... $2 PBR and Pearl!
This is a great place to grab a drink and a bite with friends without breaking the bank.
YEAH, I'm a fan.Listed in: Welcome To 78702
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Review from Hael F.
8/29/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I have only been here once but I will definitely be heading back again.
I stumbled in here during a weekday birthday bar crawl. While it was pretty dead there was still a good crowd forming for the hour and half we were there. The drinks are cheap and straightforward. The staff is friendly and unassuming. The atmosphere is ordinary and unpretentious. You can't ask for much more.
I do agree with others, the bathroom could definitely use a power wash with bleach and some OxyClean.
Quintessential dive bar at its best! -
Review from kat s.
Austin, TX
11/29/2011
I love this bar, but the bartenders will try to go home with you.
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Review from Laura G.
Austin, TX
Updated - 5/18/2011
I will be the FIRST one to tell myself to "Shut it".
The Liberty boys went above & beyond to catch the Ahole who attacked a girl outside of their bar.
Screw getting a soda on the house...go there because the House makes sure you don't get screwed.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/11/2010
I know bars. Believe me...I KNOW them.
As the designated driver, I just need the Liberty to… Read more »
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Review from Mason W.
Austin, TX
7/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
One of my favorite east side bars, not because of anything special they do (well, besides east side kings), but they seem to have the basics nailed down.
Good beer prices, reasonable liquor prices, TONS of outdoor seating, and one of if not the best food trailers in all of Austin. Indoors isn't much special and doesn't have much seating, but the outside space more than makes up for it. A couple times I've had trouble with mosquitos, but I wouldn't necessarily fault the establishment for forces of nature.
Also very pet friendly which just about puts it over the top in my book. If you're new to the east side or even just looking for a casual place to sit outside and eat, Liberty should be at the top of your list. -
Review from Dan F.
Austin, TX
7/12/2011
I love coming here...it's just so damn Austin.
The atmosphere and the crowd are great, the drinks are cheap and they're dog-friendly. You're likely to find me here at least once a week. -
Review from Evan A.
Austin, TX
10/13/2011
Great dive bar and one of my favorites in Austin. It does tend to get crowed so if you want a seat get there earlyish. Additionally it has the original East Side Kings location out back which happens to be one of the best food trailers in Austin. Their drinks are reasonably priced and the selection is good. The only reason it doesn't get the five stars is it kind of looks like every other dive bar in East Austin. I'm not sure you could really tell the difference between this place, Shangri-La, and the Grackle.
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Review from Victoria E.
Austin, TX
5/10/2011
I play softball for this place because I'm proud to.
I love the bartenders here. It's comforting to see the same faces over and over.
The inside is a little dark but it's alright. There are a couple different areas to hang out in and that's good for a change of pace. I love the big outdoor patio but I'm not sure how I feel about the picnic tables. It's hard to really sit with a large group of people and talk. But it's still nice.
The food outside is awesome too. It's a big draw for me to go to the bar. -
Review from Nigel F.
Austin, TX
Updated - 5/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
After frequenting this establishment (4-5 days out of the week) I can in all confidence say this is my most favorite bar in Austin,TX.
There is little to nothing wrong here. A bit dingy, smelly, eclectic and plain weird? HELL YES. If you don't like it, have fun at Molotov. It's real people patronizing this establishment. I was sad to see Summit go off tap, however the reasons this place is the best outnumber such a great loss.
Reasons such as -
-amazing prices
-ESK
-talkative randos
-huge patio(see ESK)
-efficient and expedient service
-a general sense you will never get in any sort of a fight here
-PBR
-PBR
-Whisky
Thanks, The Liberty. You have set the bar very high.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/5/2011
They have Summit EPA from Minneapolis. So rare, So tasty.
They have cheap beer and shots.
Far away… Read more »
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Review from Steve H.
Updated - 8/29/2011
Every time I go back to liberty the rest room is in a more and more decrepit state. I honestly cant deal with it anymore. Last time I went I had a better experience in the out houses than in the actual restroom. I mean WTF! This is not acceptable I'm going to dock them a star every time I go back and the bathroom is unsanitary.
Listed in: Best Dive Bars
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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7/7/2011
Liberty is my most favorite place in the world... people always say its not the best bar in to town… Read more »
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Review from Kate I.
Austin, TX
5/16/2011
The first few times I visited The Liberty, I liked it okay. The atmosphere inside is pretty cool, and all the extra room outside is great, plus heaters in the winter never hurt.
My first uh-oh moment was the women's bathroom -- I mean, really? The stall doors are ridiculously tiny, and it's kinda awkward to pee when some chick is standing in line staring deep into your eyes. It's a sad state of affairs when a port-o-potty is preferable to the indoor bathroom.
The last straw occurred last time I was there, when a bartender flat-out yelled in my face. He took my drink order, and then made his way to the other end of the bar, chatting up some ladies for a while. After I watched him hang with them for five minutes or so, without so much as another glance in my direction, I told a second bartender what had happened, giving him my drink order as well. The second guy brings my drink immediately (the bar wasn't busy at all), but then, wouldn't you know it, the first bartender is back, yelling at me for giving my drink order twice.
Yeah, I get it, it's a bar, you can be rude and people will still tip you. Right on. But there are plenty of places in town that serve up good drinks without all the 'tude, and I think I'll stick with those. -
Review from jessica h.
Austin, TX
5/31/2011
So this is apparently where everyone was on Saturday night. Tucked away on the back patio. It was super packed. We managed to squeeze in at a picnic table directly next to the port-a-potties. Not ideal, but interesting (and gross) to see how many folks skipped the hand washing station. Okay, more gross than interesting while you're eating, but whatevs.
Lots of dogs relaxin, generally a chill vibe. Saw a guy with long (like..2 ft long), impressively shiny and well groomed curly hair. Resisted the urge to touch.
The attached food truck was fine, but took quite awhile to deliver (busy busy). At least we had plenty of beer to pass the time. Didn't have to wait long for that! Always important.
I'm only going with 4 stars, but I definitely think I'll stop in again. -
Review from Jon F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
the bar is okay. the food trailer is awesome.
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Review from Errol M.
11/19/2010
It occurs to me that for someone who doesn't drink, I sure do go to a lot of bars. I usually go for reasons other than booze - like live jazz or food - and because I truly enjoy being in the company of you Yelpers, who do like to go to bars and make merry. My problem with writing reviews about these type of places is coming up with phrases other than, "The Diet Coke from the fountain gun here tastes like shit."
And for no good reason, I feel compelled to tell you I won second place once in a blind vodka-tasting challenge, for correctly identifying six out of ten different brands of the stuff neatly lined up in shot glasses. The winner was able to correctly identify eight before passing out. Be that as it may, I recently had a chance to visit The Liberty bar.
First, the Diet Coke from the fountain gun here tastes like shit. I also kind of regret not having to use the bathroom, which apparently has its own kind of fatal attraction. But the bartender I dealt with was a good guy, I didn't notice any waitstaff, and the inside of this place is far more spacious than it looks from the outside. The happy hour prices here are a good deal too, I think.
But the one reason I'd recommend The Liberty during your next East 6th bar crawl is their outside killer patio - it's huge, it has lots of seating, and it appears a lot of great-looking women do their smoking here. It's also the home base for one of the top five Austin food trailers, who'll stay open for you right up until it's time for everyone to get out: Hard for me to argue with that, and it probably makes The Liberty a perfect last stop on this side of town.Listed in: "Places Where I Like to Watch…
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Review from Lauren D.
Philadelphia, PA
12/17/2010
So I have to be honest - I have maybe a 5-minute long memory of this place because I was so drunk when I got here but, according to my friends, I loved this place so this review is going to be second-hand primarily.
I remember it being super dark inside with shitty and cheap beer but hey, it's not like Austin is known for it's beer quality. Also my friends drink more cheap beer than water so it makes sense that we were here. There is a picture of me drinking a Newcastle though so that was neat.
According to Cassie T and other pictures, we sat outside in the back primarily. I do remember that vaguely and that it was super cute and had lots of picnic tables for people to sit at.
They also have truck outback that serves pork buns! I remember eating one, then blacked out, but there is a picture of me eating one of my friend's pork buns so I probably thought they were delicious and worth stealing from my friends. I'm going to go ahead and assume that you should make it a point to eat them. I mean, a pork bun truck in the back of a bar? You Austin kids know how to cater to the drunkards.
I'm only giving it 4-stars because I don't really remember being here so I can't really say it was omg-amazing because well, I can only go guy what my friends have told me. But apparently I loved it and apparently can not wait to go here again. -
Review from Christine Z.
Providence, RI
3/26/2011
If you're like me...and I know I am, then you are always skeptical when someone tells you "they have the best food truck" especially when you're from NYC where food truckin' is part of your weekly routine. They indeed do have the best food truck, believe the hype. We ordered the tongue buns, thai basil fried chicken, and the beet hash browns -- it was epic.
The back patio is really awesome and it's good for people watching -- long hair on guys is back and girls are lovin' the floral spandex. -
Review from tammy l.
Burlingame, CA
4/21/2011
OMG, this place is awesome! this was the last stop i made before flying home to CA. the staff's friendly.. the food stand was off the hook.. whatever the basil rice was (i think thats what it was??? too many shots to remember the name, i just know it tasted EXCELLENT). The patio out back is huge, btw.
The paintings inside are also pretty cool!
I have to make a point to come back here when i'm back in town. -
Review from Ashley S.
12/10/2010
Maybe I'll grow tired of this area eventually as well, but I can't see that happening anytime soon. With that being said, arrived at this bar quite early just before happy hour ended. Our mission? For me to try East Side King for the first time. My roommate got a couple pork buns and rice and I got some Thai chicken (first thing on the menu). I'm not into fried chicken, nor did I really read that it was fried chicken but I liked it. Very flavorful, almost got me wanting to eat more fried chicken because it was so damn tasty. The rice had too much mint and ginger I believe but it was above average for me.
I really dig this place. It has an array of people from all walks of life. I saw college kids talking about their grades and people who looked old enough to be my parents if not older. The inside was cozy looking, not overdone or trying too hard to be anything but an east east 6th bar. The beers were reasonably priced, the outdoor seating was huge. However I can see how it might not look so huge on a busier night with one of the most sought after trailers in town.
Keep doin your thing, eastside. You've got a lot of character. And more growth coming your way it seems.Listed in: Eastin' it, Dive-tastic
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Review from Valerie G.
Austin, TX
2/3/2011
From here on out, I'm only referring to Liberty Bar as the one-stop shop for mustache sightings. Dying to stare longingly into the eyes of a handlebar sporting chap? I don't blame you. Let's go to Liberty.
Mustachioed patrons might be the number one reason I like this bar, but it's definitely not the only reason. They have cheap tall boys, and their bartenders definitely don't under pour your liquor drink. They also have a giant patio with my favorite thing in the world: picnic tables. Picnic tables everywhere! On top of it all.. if you're hungry, they have a trailer! I've never eaten there, but I know they have something with beets on their menu. Who doesn't love beets!?
Great bar. Great location. Great mustaches.Listed in: I HEART Dive Bars
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Review from Jason C.
Austin, TX
8/30/2010
Bot really sure how i feel about this place anymore. Feel like if I'm walking into some kind of Abercrombie & Fitch catalog 'maltstreamer' hell lately. Feel like if I start conversations with random patrons they would begin with "What do you do?" and that scares me. Then it's probably only a matter of time before the conversation devolves into "Hey what did you think about the season finale of LOST", "iPhone versus Droid" and then to give me 'hope' they'll probably tell me about how much they 'love their job'. Might even wish me luck. Please would someone just be honest and say "eat a dick you pretentious asshole". This is probably just a weekend phenomena...But please do go on about how much you loved traveling to ________. I've never been outside the US and I just 'love' hearing about how much more fun you've had in your life than me.
It's a dive bar. On the East side. You need it because you can't survive on Shangrila and Rio Rita (and the occasional Brixton) alone. Or at least I can't. -
Review from Jessica P.
Manhattan, NY
9/8/2011
Went there last night (Monday) and they were showing WWF from 1991, pretty awesome. Our Austin friend said it was a 'true dive', whatever that means, but it was pretty dirty hipster, which I love.
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Review from Joyce C.
Austin, TX
11/2/2010 7 Check-ins Here
What's not to like and what hasn't already been said...
super cool, chill place.
Good jukebox music, good people, VERY good stout drinks ($2.50 wells)
and of course the inevitable East Side Kings food truck out back!!!
This place is magic!
My 3rd time back, dude already knew my drink!! i was very impressed, and it was slow so he let me be in charge of the TV remote :) -
Review from Gary S.
Austin, TX
4/8/2011
This bar is great!! the jukebox rocks and the drinks are pretty damn cheap. I do have to admit that some of the crowd did look scary but once you start to mingle you realize everyone there is harmless. The bar staff for the most part is really nice. The food is really good and the patio is very spacious.
Great job and awesome bar!! -
Review from Brian S.
9/23/2010
The inside of Liberty Bar may have been pulled straight from a Quentin Tarantino movie. Dark and foreboding, smelling faintly of spilt hops and barley. Not a date place. Do yourself a favor and make your way to the backyard patio after ordering your drinks (which are priced fairly most hours, and cheaply during happy hour, which lasts til 8pm!!). Long-seated picnic tables makeup the entirety of the outdoor area - come early if you want to claim your space and don't be shy about sharing tables because it is bound to happen by the end of the night.
If I could in good conscience include the East Side King trailer in my review of Liberty Bar, it would almost certainly be a five-star review. ESK makes some of the best trailer food I have ever eaten and can only be accessed through Liberty Bar. However, on the merits the bar portion itself, I can only view my time here as a three-star experience. -
Review from EC S.
Somerville, MA
12/7/2010
One of the greatest joys in life is drinking a good beer (or a cheap beer, when with friends, 'cause they make everything taste better) outside at a picnic table on a summer night. This is why I love Liberty. Cheap beer and tons of tables outside.
I have to say that I prefer Liberty's outdoor space to Shangri La's... there are some dumpsters somewhere around Shangri La and it just never smells right.
Liberty has a few negatives, but they are very minor in the scheme of the bar's overall greatness. First, the women's bathroom could be a bit nicer. (I just mean, maybe the locks could work. Not that there need to be tile mosaics.) However, once again I have to compare Liberty to its nearby sibling Shangri La. Liberty wins on bathrooms because there are TWO ladies' toilets instead of just one. And somehow the bathrooms at Liberty are always cleaner.
Second minor complaint: parking. You'll find it...eventually.
But overall I have only warm, fuzzy feelings for Liberty. -
Review from Robin C.
San Diego, CA
9/1/2010
Beards & Bikes = Lady Boner.
I am not ashamed to admit a very successful craigslist missed connection came out of an extra special night lurking at the Liberty Bar. If you too, want to meet a fixed gear riding ginger who cooks vegan pancakes and fosters cats with feline aids, get thee to Liberty.
That sounded really cliche, it was, and I was into it.
But for seriously, I like the whole beer garden feel to the outdoor area.
GOOSH. -
Review from Nicole L.
Updated - 4/27/2011
Ok, dumpster smell has been relieved. At least, it wasn't present the last few times I've been. It's funny, this is the same crowd that's been at the same bars for years and years with a few new faces sprinkled here and there. Think Ritz ambience from ten years ago if you can remember back that far or have been in Austin that long!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/9/2010
There's a lot to like. But y'all, SORT OUT THE GOD AWFUL DUMPSTER SMELL FOR FLAP'S SAKE. Do it.… Read more »
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Review from Andrew T.
9/7/2010
Place has a cool layout. The inside was not packed, so lots of space to move around and do activities.
The backyard...God save your soul. Way too crowded, and the backyard was pretty big...
Stopped in real quick to grab a PBR (Oh yea, I like this beer) and walked on out.
Came the next day to eat at the trailer in the back because it closed 15 mins before I got there. Pork Belly buns........yea....delishimaximo. -
Review from Lauren E.
Austin, TX
6/30/2010
Good drinks - Poured well not too pricey
Great trailer food - Was planning on fries but sauteed brussel sprouts on jasmine rice, way bettter.
Awesome choices on the jukebox - Hank!
Laughably dressed patrons - Seriously? Are those daisy duke mom shorts?
Mosquitos - My blood is a heavenly nectar.
Busted pinball machines - Star Trek and Terminator.
Galaga and Pacman - Yay.Listed in: I Drink Here, Yay! Cheap food!
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Review from Rebecca L.
Austin, TX
4/8/2011
Not a huge fan of dive bars, but ended up coming here to hang out with my boyfriend and some people from his lab. It was pretty dive-y, so if you're into that, you'd probably give it 5 stars. Me, not a fan of their restrooms (I see others have complained about them as well) with their cramped stalls. There's great people watching and the East Side Kings trailer out back makes great food (albeit pricey; not unexpected for east side food trailers). I guess I'm just not a fan of hipsters.
